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 Article of the Month - May 2006
Good bowel health with homeopathy
The bowels? Is that kind of talk allowed in polite company?
Mention bowels and people start looking embarrassed, disgusted, amused or, if a health professional like me, fascinated. The first thing to do is to put aside any embarrassment and negative feelings about the bowels. Bowel function is natural, and the noises, appearance and odour that are associated with stools are good indicators of our bowel health, so forget about feeling embarrassed, get interested. The bowels are absolutely critical in waste management and we need to look after them. We need to be aware of these functions so that we can take steps to remedy any indications of dysfunction or disease. Gillian McKeith has done a lot of good on her television show by encouraging people to pay attention to their bowel motions and stools. So, throw off your inhibitions and let us get started on how to improve bowel health.
People today suffer from constipation, IBS, Coeliac disease, Crohn's Disease, diverticulitis, flatulence, etc. Each of these conditions is worthy of an article (or a booklet at least) on their own, and will probably be covered eventually. For this article, I am going to concentrate with general ways to improve bowel health overall. These suggestions may bring about some improvement in the aforementioned conditions.
What are the bowels and why do we care?
First of all, what are the bowels? They comprise two sections, the small intestines and the large intestines. These intestines connect the stomach to the anus. The small intestines are all about further digestion or breakdown of foods and absorption of nutrients. An exchange also happens here as circulating toxins in the body are dumped. The large intestines are concerned with the re-absorption of water and the creation of stools from the leftover digested food. Recent studies have shown that the bowels are so complicated that they have their own nervous system or gut brain, to deal with all the processes required. Also, certain nutrients, hormones and neurotransmitters are created in the bowels.
We need to care for our bowels as without good, effective digestion and absorption, we would become malnourished or even starve. Malnourishment means that the body is deprived of the nutrients it requires for health, resulting in dysfunction, added bodily stress and eventually, pathology or tissue change.
Toxicity in the bowels can be related to allergies, candida, skin rashes, headaches, tiredness and a host of other problems.
Looking after our bowels
Our bowels facilitate the process of food entering our body as nutrients. They deserve our attention and care. Improving bowel health helps your body to make the most of the food that you eat. In homeopathic terms, there is a lot you can do:
Bowel nosodes: these are incredibly powerful homeopathic remedies made from the stools of individuals with various bowel complaints (shigella/dysentery, diarrhoea, etc.). Your homeopath is the best one to prescribe which one may be best suited to you. For instance, morgan gaertner is excellent where there is mucal catarrh in the bowels and associated skin conditions. Whereas dysentery co is excellent for yellow stools (even yellow vision!) and is associated with nervous anxiety, tics, etc.
My recommendation is that for acute situations, use a book like Asa Hershoff's Homeopathic Remedies or Thomas Kruzel's Emergency Guide (check out my recommendations and links page to find out where to buy these books) which lists the condition (abdominal inflammation, diarrhoea, constipation, parasites) and the typical symptoms that the individual might display. Match the closest description (or 'picture') to the symptoms you are exhibiting.
For more chronic ailments, seek help from a registered homeopath. Check out Embody ( www.embodyforyou.com), a professional organisation for complementary therapists for your closest professional.
Jan de Vries Bowel essence is an excellent adjunct for any bowel problem. I have tried it myself and know of other practitioners who like it also.
From an energetic viewpoint, the intestines absorb nourishment, separating good and nutritious from bad and harmful. Food is integrated into our bodies and waste is evacuated. Feelings, thoughts, experiences must also be integrated and evacuated from our bodies and minds. Being able to let go of harmful thought patterns, hurts, etc. is useful, but holding on is painful, like constipation or spastic colon or ulceration of the colon. If we let go too soon, without integrating the lesson into our consciousness, then we have emotional and physical diarrhoea. We waste opportunities to nourish our bodies and minds, or, we cannot handle the 'crap' in our lives. Frequently, we are hit by an emotion in our gut. Be it fear, anger, pity, anxiety, etc., emotions can bring on diarrhoea (sh*tting the pants with fear) or constipation (too stressed to use the bathroom, or financial hard times can see us holding on to every penny or stool!). Look a little deeper; is there an emotional or mental reason behind the problem?
Naturopathy & nutrition
There are many ways to improve the bowel function. We can clean out the bowels. Ghandi swore by enemas, and was reputed to have had one everyday. While that is a bit extreme, keeping the bowels clean and removing impacted debris and waste is definitely worth doing.
- Bentonite clay - very good for the colon and helps to drag out toxins and impacted waste, especially in pouches (diverticulars). Bentonite clay (I get mine from Neal's Yard) is best if you sprinkle a teaspoon on a glass of water (250-300ml) and left to stand for 20 minutes. You can then stir and produce quite a creamy liquid. This clay can absorb up to forty times its weight in toxins. Don't stay on bentonite clay too long as it absorbs minerals as well as toxins from the body.
- Psyllium husks provide fibre which bulks out stools and work like little brooms in the intestines. The fibre gives the toxins something to bind to as they exit the body. If you have inflammatory conditions, be wary as husks may agitate your condition.
- You can give yourself a thorough cleanout with a mixture of both bentonite clay and psyllium husks. Stir in the husks once your bentonite clay has fully mixed in with the water.
- Enemas are great ways to clear the large intestine, or you can go to a specialist for colonic irrigation. An enema can be a good way to start a serious bowel cleanse.
- Alfalfa is an excellent source of fibre, chlorophyll and silicon and helps to tone up the bowels.
- Cod liver oil is not just good for your joints, but also provides lubrication for the intestines. It provides Vitamins A & D, which are necessary for elimination. It also stimulates bile production which aids digestion.
- Prebiotics are sugars (call fructo-oligosaccharides) that the body does not digest, but feeds the good bacteria living in the bowels. We need these bacteria to help break down our food for absorption and to help make certain nutrients for the body. Hence, probiotics (acidophilus, lactobacillus, bifidobacterium, etc.) and their food, prebiotics, help to maintain a good bowel environment. Can help with problems with gas, candida, boosting immune system, etc.
To help regulate bowel movements and to stimulate motions:
- Prune juice helps to regulate the bowels, and can help relieve constipation.
- Soak a tablespoon of golden linseed in half a cup of water for two hours and then drink it, this helps the bowels to move.
- Eat five seeds - pumpkin, hemp, golden linseed, sesame and sunflower seeds. Eat them whole or grind them up and add them to your food. They bulk out food and help form stools. With adequate water intake, they also help lubricate the intestines and have healing qualities.
In terms of foods, processed foods and dairy products can cause a sludge or mucous build up in the intestines. White flour and other grains can leave a horrible black, tarry sludge that coats the inner intestinal tube, destroying the villi (little finger like projections in the intestines that help maximise the surface area for absorption) and hampering the absorption process. Eat whole foods, full of fibre and goodness to keep your body as healthy as possible. Good quality water is a necessity, and can help with constipation and a host of other ailments. Dry, hard stools can be the result of dehydration, so monitor your water consumption. If you like hot drinks, a squeeze of lemon in hot water on a morning will stimulate your bowels. Drink herbal teas and invest in a juicer and juice your own fruit and vegetables. Eating raw vegetables (salads, carrots, etc.) and fruit will help your bowels as they contain fibre, nutrients and enzymes that help the whole body, including the intestines.
Take control
Let your bowels do their job. Inspect your stools, become aware of your toilet habits and start looking at ways to support the intestines. Take one step at a time and see what agrees with you most. What changes have been wrought from each step? What suits your body best? For serious complaints, see your homeopath.
References
Dr Jensen's Guide to Better Bowel Care by
Bernard Jensen
The Body Mind Workbook compiled by
Debbie Shapiro
Remedy Notes 2 by
John Wallace
College of Practical Homeopathy
Please be advised that the above are only my personal views. I have advised based on a healthy person on no medication. Any measures you take are at your own risk. Consult a nutritionist, herbalist and homoeopath before taking high doses of supplements, herbal tinctures and some homoeopathic remedies. This information does not replace medical advice and you should consult your doctor if you have any concerns about your condition or how the above can affect your medication.
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